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<div><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #ee5624;">Welcome Back to School</span><br>
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<div>I wanted to take a moment to welcome you back to the NewsBlast.
We're excited to be continuing to provide a national platform for
education-reform information sharing. As an organization that works
directly "on the ground" with teachers, administrators, students, and
parents, we're particularly interested in promoting the intersection of
research and practice, and the grassroots work of changing schools and
communities.<br>
<br>
</div>
Please help us advance this mission by sending us blogs about your
education-reform experiences, the highs and lows. Share with us
information about important things of national significance happening in
your community, your district, and your state. And do invite others to
become NewsBlast subscribers by visiting LAEP's website and clicking
the "Join our Newsletter" link and selecting the Public Ed NewsBlast.<br>
<br>
Best wishes for a successful and fulfilling school year!<br>
<br>
Ellen</td></tr></tbody></table></td>
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<div>August 27, 2014 - In This Issue:</div>
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<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38711-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27675186&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK17">Talking about Mike Brown</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;border-bottom:2px dotted #8c8d8d;border-color:#8c8d8d;padding:7px 0px 7px 0px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38711-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27675186&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK45">The latest EdNext survey</a></div>
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<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38711-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27675186&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK44">The latest Ed Week survey</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;border-bottom:2px dotted #8c8d8d;border-color:#8c8d8d;padding:7px 0px 7px 0px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38711-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27675186&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK43">Why math reforms have failed</a></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;border-bottom:2px dotted #8c8d8d;border-color:#8c8d8d;padding:7px 0px 7px 0px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38711-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27675186&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK42">Reforming like it's 1983</a></div>
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<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38711-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27675186&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK53">Peer review basically absent</a></div>
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<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38711-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27675186&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK55">Connecting non-academic factors and achievement</a></div>
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<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38711-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27675186&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK54">An unproductive comparison of charter and traditional schools</a></div>
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<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38711-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27675186&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK46">BRIEFLY NOTED CALIFORNIA</a></div>
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<div><a style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;font-size:10pt;" shape="rect" href="http://mail.aol.com/38711-111/cs_com-6/en-us/Lite/MsgRead.aspx?folder=NewMail&uid=27675186&seq=0&searchIn=none&searchQuery=&start=0&sort=received&sortDir=descending#aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK19">GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES</a></div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>Talking about Mike Brown</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>On
his Practical Theory blog, Principal Chris Lehman of the Science
Leadership Academy (SLA) in Philadelphia writes that when he heard
Mike Brown was shot, unarmed, multiple times by a police officer, his
thoughts immediately went to stories over the years from students of
color about experiences with police. The stories aren't monolithic, and
students of color whose parents are police bring a different lens to
these conversations, but overwhelmingly, he's heard deep distrust and
fear. With the acquittal of George Zimmerman in Trayvon Martin's death,
with Michael Dunn and Jordan Davis's death, and now with Mike Brown's
death, many students of color conclude that American justice -- from
police to the courts -- aren't there for them. Statistics bear this out.
What can educators do? To pretend the issue doesn't enter the classroom
risks complicity in the system that left Brown's body in the street for
hours. Now is a moment to ask hard questions, and Brown's death reminds
us there is no such thing as passive anti-racism. His death -- and the
police state Ferguson has become since -- indicates institutional racism
is the norm in this country. We must actively work to do better. Lehman
includes <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRa9kK6M89Ez_LAbaVw8uy4yS-dGJqcU0qcSJ-EYYNJubiJY24n2on0MOxx1GcOtpo7MUWgZPbSg3v4CAZx7m0SBnwrKts7JIcjymI90cm3RpkPeXYdm883tKp0qayWwSaQ0GJX3CB5bs9HtLbu-WtAlsYEIFGQJgiCCnZ923ORbyaiy9R5j01J3tnTYbmWATegEVymITe--ikwbWI9mY0p7g==&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">a link</a> to resources around talking about Brown's death.</span> </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaB2wrYkeJY84ZZT_cTMCHxLuABpwbxR5tvxV9oXmC93KG6tmcuCq3COlbqyi89-SmJEkp2YQJ82G6ZrSnwL_0eiCYHwSKjjPxg6j8AEf36gaXwie4XyVGpOjU9Ae8TnAJZPg6Ra6e_gkp1jOq_n0Ex8wInydLAnp7qXouDjgLoAxPSyRL-q0-EYRrb_gZ7oUr&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
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<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>The latest EdNext survey</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">A
recent survey from Education Next finds a sharp change in public
opinion around the Common Core. Administered to 5,000 respondents in May
and June 2014, it finds 53 percent favor the standards, compared with
65 percent in 2013. Opposition has doubled from 13 to 26 percent; those
taking no position is unchanged at 21 percent. The survey also found
that Americans asked to evaluate teaching quality think, on average,
about half the teachers in local schools deserve a grade of A or B, but
more than one-fifth deserve a D or F. The average teacher thinks 69
percent of colleagues deserve an A or a B, but admit 5 percent deserve
an F, with another 8 percent no better than a D. More than one-fourth of
families with school-age children have educated a child in a setting
other than a traditional public school. Eighty-seven percent have
experience with traditional schools, most relying on them exclusively.
Still, 14 percent have used private schools, and 9 percent have enrolled
children in charters. Charters attract 15 percent of African Americans
with school-age children. Also, the public is less inclined to favor
using funds for class-size reduction if they know its cost relative to
the cost of teacher pay and the purchase of new books and technologies. </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRatOw7Qno4dzfNHQj6SJqSNOiJY52SnFGWFbWpYqWrt8kCnz6wpK6Fv_Zbq8NhKU2IrRQtYzUVGGSz74Z0Y41WDPVeHyz24lv-Q8ePpvRkqDgeo5KXwcrf3tjCwco2yMZoOOo068BlpxKh5kZqIn25pG_MjI_scVmFxBQV5yTCpZr3cw184YT5SQ==&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>The latest Ed Week survey</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>A
new survey from the Education Week Research Center of 457 teachers and
instructional specialists in K-12 schools examines views on issues
related to the Common Core, including familiarity with the standards and
aligned assessments; curricular resources; professional development and
training; preparedness for the new standards and assessments; and
impact on classroom instruction and student learning. While not
statistically representative, respondents included diverse teachers and
instructional specialists spanning a range of subjects, grade levels,
and geographic regions. A majority of respondents report some
familiarity with the standards in both ELA and mathematics, but were
less familiar with aligned assessments developed by the consortia. Most
respondents reported access to high-quality multimedia and other
supplementary resources, but fewer than half had high-quality, aligned
textbooks. A majority of educators have received some professional
development for the Common Core, but eight in 10 want more. Respondents
said the most useful forms of training involved collaborative planning
time, professional learning communities, structured training
opportunities, and job-embedded coaching. Since the Center's original
survey in October 2012, teachers and instructional specialists
describing themselves as "very familiar" with the standards in
mathematics increased from 18 percent in 2012 to 31 in 2013.</span> </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRa2R8qNQ5FTZm4jzqhWAD1pJvT_HK17ot4Sqf7ojQW1REqUIr0kGhjQiI8Kqydo6chSgG47eFgA0GOwXj0HVkOGyJHFr2dcB81o-mX3xnQJn2If_njU_QkrLz52rK-TyPBDiHiOciiN3qMqqPKzovpjF1kwvq_wrPS&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
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<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span><b>Why math reforms have failed</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>In
The New York Times Magazine, Elizabeth Green describes how the National
Council of Teachers of Mathematics published manifestos throughout the
1980s prescribing radical changes in teaching math. These were adopted
to excellent results by other countries, notably Japan, but discarded in
the U.S. "It wasn't the first time Americans dreamed up a better way to
teach math and then failed to implement it," Green writes. Such efforts
stretch back to the 1800s, the same scenario every time: a big, excited
push, followed by mass confusion and a return to conventional practice.
The trouble starts when teachers are asked to implement innovative
ideas without guidance. With unprepared teachers, reforms turn to
nonsense, perplexing students more than helping. This frustrating
descent is underway again, Green says, as states adopt the Common Core
without good systems for instructing educators. Inadequate
implementation leads to the inevitable conclusion: Why try something
we've failed at a half-dozen times before, only to watch it backfire?
Yet math reforms rise again and again, since our traditional way of
teaching math simply doesn't work -- as proficiency data for both
students and adults attest. Japan could make changes because teachers
depended on jugyokenkyu, a set of practices to hone their craft. There, a
teacher plans lessons, then teaches in front of an audience of students
and other teachers, along with at least one university observer.
Observers discuss with the teacher what's taken place. Of all lessons
Japan can offer the United States, the most important might be a belief
in patience and the possibility of change. Training teachers in a new
way of thinking takes time, and American parents must be patient.</span> </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaq4ev4vQgzM-wfxvdiIbwKeJVgeS_8mBCpUDV3WJlkYpxDBY7IoNWiL4b8ELbnnxJKSOVSPrBVERiOxB0MuQMOb1FUhx-hieAgJLBKEhiiqVJOv7J4tNGhr-ZzAJYIEU03KXdEnnIL0xEqg-ASA_tR_T9s2M87_WwMzaNOCVgzYhPbj7x-F-9N5HsJhJjn6Gyzc6aszuBvZ6Qzm9KrZ1vAE3htlKvs15_cWZ0uOhY5mHuCVDA3P8oEl-kkyENvmnuKKedl7XNKkVicG6nKSaXdLWgwCHdYgjPP_agYb2H4_BKnzAyU1-E36j4BoqEYlGuNwCcKL4p7jo=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
</div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>Reforming like it's 1983</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>Many
changes roiling American education today can be traced directly back to
ideas in the 1983 report "A Nation at Risk," writes Sarah Garland in
The Christian Science Monitor. The report from the Reagan administration
was a scathing appraisal of public education by a commission of leaders
from government, business, and education, who spent two years examining
American schools and were appalled at what they found. The document set
off panic in a once self-satisfied nation, and launched a movement to
transform public education. Its effects are still powerful. Its five
proposed solutions -- improving content, raising standards, overhauling
the teaching profession, adding time to the school day and year, and
improving leadership and fiscal support - can be seen in the Common
Core, in teacher ratings based partly on standardized test scores, and
in the rise of charters with longer days and no union contracts. But as
these prescriptions become reality, they're sparking further from
those backlash who feel the worst of the report -- an overhyped sense of
crisis and business-focused mentality -- has been embraced, ignoring
ideas about empowering teachers, raising expectations for students, and
identifying and training better school leaders. Testing was a
sub-recommendation in the report, one of eight in a section promoting
higher standards and calling for state "standardized tests of
achievement" at major transition points to identify need for remediation
or advancement, and to identify schools succeeding as much as failing.</span> </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaTzIjFHL0g0KV2AByyq5OEwUh21l1hFj0QtxnXToIn0sCcxFkQkmAtH3de-72o9PvMsuQevNy0L-FJerLWX4zzP2mVpaoL6uU9nmcKQjXHLVDjjbuXFhlJtUUUoXo0ke5sm1Wg2oDj0OXyT8NOd39WBdIGyZxFdVqajc0o6lNxijOvoIRCaXd3h8gwCA7cfFYTMOwWncT1-TwtNBppN8e2Q==&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>Peer review basically absent</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>A
new article from the American Educational Research Association finds
that less than one percent of articles published in top education
research journals are replication studies, even though replicating
important findings is essential for improving usefulness of research for
policymakers and practitioners. The report analyzes the complete
publication history of the current 100 education journals with the
highest five-year "impact factor" (how often articles are cited in other
scholarly work), finding only 0.13 percent of published articles were
replications. Contrary to medicine but similar to psychology, nearly 68
percent of replications successfully replicate findings of original
studies, 19.5 percent have mixed results (supporting some, but not all,
findings), and 13.1 percent fail to replicate any original
findings. Replications were significantly less likely to succeed when
there was no overlap in authorship between original and replicating
articles. Replications conducted by completely new researchers were
successful 54 percent of the time; when conducted by original authors in
the same publication, 88.7 percent were successful. Replications in a
new publication but with at least one author on both original and
replicating studies had a 70.6 percent success rate. Currently, one in
500 education studies are replications, an increase from one in 2,000 in
1990.</span> </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaGhBRJ98ulL2r0_nxWQoBgK6hvQFBWLjpyvZS0zoAJEdGXmMPEpUV6B4XsYK5GxM3GE6iIBGWRHxhaEHeFt0BE64lz2qzUISgXPwDTPuC0wUc9jNdpSi09yjoidqmhZonwa4gQV6qAdeyQtzI-expS2SZRuJaI4LqmkvDe7VYf_QDETnqTPAHRDIso7RO38EwNgkCDxUBJPVwf5Z7r41uB2JbObO3nPFzXnxegAXgkYLUi204Ency0Qf14G4hMSBRLy_TNet8ZlsUeR2pWXnWaA==&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
</div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>Connecting non-academic factors and achievement</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>A
new report about City Connects, a student-support intervention that
addresses non-academic factors limiting academic achievement for
children in poverty, evaluates outcomes for 2011</span><span>-</span><span>12
in 16 Boston and five Springfield, MA public elementary/K-8 schools,
finding the program has a significant and lasting impact on academic
achievement. The intervention identifies strengths and needs of every
child, and connects each student to tailored prevention, intervention,
and enrichment services in the community and school. Students attending
City Connects from kindergarten have 50 percent lower odds of dropping
out of high school than comparison students. City Connects students
outperform peers in middle school, achieving close to proficiency on
both English and Math statewide standardized tests (the MCAS). In
elementary school, City Connects students scored significantly higher on
the Stanford Achievement Test in grades 3, 4, and 5 in reading and
math, and after one year of City Connects in Springfield's "turnaround"
elementary schools, the gap between these and other Springfield schools
was significantly reduced in grades 3, 4, and 5 for english and math
MCAS. The report also notes students in City Connects are more likely to
later attend highly selective secondary schools in Boston. The
probability of attending an exam school increased with each additional
year in City Connects. Students also show decreased likelihood of being
chronically absent or kept back.</span> </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRag7MqEGu4pk88OQnvm6n6x-9B8TXdZfRSKMhPXN667s_GcVdzmlcf89Pq2mLdCUHd1C6yEdyRqZViRm1ta35NIlM5tu7Cj751-lg3sKbuywaa6GAQD4sTznDVYe0Pi0DNuPuH5xkz8PLQLib64RzDbeYlkeij99xaP-OgH04XAi-EEpAiYNQ84bZiKG5BxnljnvWm4QeTaY09kXaKYF4ykQOevaL_kdGmxgNJbuvf_EAXhZCqoMc52zw-kiWLQhH9X8OA8GefFQRnCXX_-DEYelQ2-RMbGTwh&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
</div>
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<div>
<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><span style="color: #f14e23;"><b>An unproductive comparison of charter and traditional schools</b></span></div>
<div style="color:#454545;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span>A
review by the National Education Policy Center of a report on charter
school productivity finds the report's claims "suffer multiple sources
of invalidity, rendering the report useless." The report, from the
University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, uses the National
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and "revenues received" to
conclude charters deliver an additional 17 NAEP points per $1,000 in
math and 16 points per $1,000 in reading. The reviewer points out the
report inaccurately employs NAEP results by discounting demographic
differences highly correlated with performance, i.e., the sector with a
higher percentage of poor pupils scores lower. Moreover, the report
compares "all revenues" received by "district schools" and "charter
schools," claiming a comparison of expenditures is too complex. Yet
traditional schools often fund programs not provided by charter schools
(special education, compensatory education, food, transportation,
special populations, capital costs, state-mandated instructional
activities, physical education). Charter funding in most states and
districts is a pass-through from district funding, and districts retain
some or all responsibility for provision of services to charter students
-- a reality the report acknowledges but does not correct for. Taken
together, the report's flaws leave readers with little evidence on which
to base any valid conclusions, the reviewer writes.</span> </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaIQrD1KrhvDK6K2Krw8p6U98VROyCt0OxVgwc_DBqX5vML8_yVxbnqKujOLkKelbIVu3-D_YALBknvDV3gXp-rPmSSkT5eWRZFq5PXvf_2mrd1vKohyypZ7wRvojc2ualul5r6zWWQh2v2X4vBFf4xMS4CMpEvtNSPi8K4k7X1WU=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
</div>
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<div><b>BRIEFLY NOTED CALIFORNIA</b></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;padding:8px 25px 18px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Invisible </strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span>In 2012</span><span>-</span><span>2013, more than 6,400 California middle-schoolers dropped out, according to California Department of Education data.</span> <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaSQ_g2-sJEElarEY1KKy0o3_auFVrWXlBqzNHmWLrxn-YD5IN04o3mLBlSik4e39LXiHJ_UKv7F-KMXrpw20-p0kixVSwQje0dRFYpzGF17cviP0F_9pxC-IpCvX4W9dC61zxmSDwR6ksXoomvJiiIFC0NNJpS5uESQF1SxHfJoBLBAsri23KjI2H3fLQN8hrDoMEyunwLjpu6PtF-xfbP9cQ8OK5Ra1Id7X9F7ePC96pTFOoNOzP-uuQRWtKrNWUCDtzndESa8-IwyNW2z69Jw==&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><span><strong>The buck stops with the state</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span>A judge has ruled
California is ultimately responsible for seeing that districts provide
services to all English language learners not receiving help they need
to become proficient in English.</span> <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRa7QdW48L2a8s2Aiw2EaWTa9_P_d4wdyfHIejRyt90qyKVkQBzAO4dRQpNNQGU8L6I_Y55NqW5vC8Rx0UPP9LSiwZ2iJFXBVE2tCjqL2TNIl4szZhmoLbgGfH8vSWSh2Eq8_7tsv4jqlKRbLbFGU_UJgGa5e187ThjyXuwZ-IfVvxE3K8UNYWZkpphKM30yJ0EMp7LGclQ0iA=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><b>No kidding</b></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span>The groundbreaking
effort to provide an iPad to every Los Angeles student, teacher, and
school administrator was beset by inadequate planning, a lack of
transparency, and a flawed bidding process, according to a draft of an
internal school district report.</span> <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaIH0IHV1q7w9-P0tdTnDMz9ae6dj3hIiQsjj8Bsi3RWqcI8ObPUa-4VlKLY_rhYReDeUBzfwyhArmlVuoTKKkgBbf_CEy3zXXlfFTtA5bFTg8KpU7lQaHKuCrd0CzOYrNAFlAfUpR_iK47Hk40jWDc4dzS4f_j9UQyF1oUETdnuYdm2Xfop6tww==&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><span><strong>Straight into Princeton</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span>You hear about the
Compton student who graduated from high school at the top of his class
last May and starts school this fall at Princeton with a full
scholarship? Probably not.</span> <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaVKVGziYsAwx9Dk8_O6WzmkUlznNoJ73rJkCX_-5pK6u82e1__BLYbBOkCahxuEVJMOExqY1RGvT_Zg_w1MliY3kXuewjcTK54mgL5jgZ0S1VLtqqgkPsNwWFRfcwvD5PQf2hzIlC7mY7ME6qT0YCyRbqnH1h_XnMGy44YRCQZABhqwdHtSMAwYehOPYQkyKz&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><span><strong>Trigger lock</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span>The Los Angeles
Unified School District has announced it is exempting itself from the
state's parent trigger law, based on a federal waiver.</span> <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRav_A2Cja_PbvTbTjurf2Wr20GC3wQy7J3RElVUaqLjAezVIKtTBt8myeFt0GVEwyhmqHA0z-gg84bKnVaztV3WbvxZiHKyoMuLU-TC3S3WFXwM0-mCz14KP9BHi61YEJrs4dV81XXQ-Tw7D4oCoalJTJ0IFqgD0tGmUQUMmqNPv-OHwqDnYq0T3fdA87JKK-m9sYJqXeB9GjOa2RIrJNqSA==&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Back to the drawing board </strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span>In the wake of the
recent defeat of another candidate to the Los Angeles school board,
charter advocates are rethinking how to support local candidates. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRam-jcrRzzUOq4gm3AI2lfhpKNPRI6sD7RSn0xZw2-0EIyaKpr9OggBiFVJlyRyedqgF75s4JCfqF0c1LkM2UNomsuuWsNL-rJJL4QgXSKqUvk76byuElUQXhEz1IEPL0WzIEjewQwJ3fycwShL8UvFFBQQYS3cA98tOy5RDpUyLqjZfvcY1wTk37QrqqLR8OSEN4Xbw3hWSjCdpAJfJnozo-4mLgVMfJz2ISXlcRqED8=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Kind of a problem</strong></div>
<span>Los Angeles Unified has told teachers to stop using its new
district-wide computer system after days of glitches that have lost
records and kept students from starting in their proper classes.</span> <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaWzFfUl32jS43SK1Yo2nl0Uqn8ZD3pltWFGbL4EIjF3So7HPb13Zf6dTBhQjSrV_PBMWrRd155w1fwy8xP9tQ7gjRQTXv4kBwpd5QD59lrJs3HUWgcSAXLQQou5DULNwpn_QKwYN80pH5oaeQF_kY2T-zdrBajiSu&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a><br>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Checked out</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">While
absenteeism is usually considered a student matter, in San Francisco,
the average teacher misses more school than the average child. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRagEYpzCvdVg8WM0DS83lf_fOWhn2mMG_s04DQ2AgYkDp-G74vQbXGXCyDJ5BaJ6PWQFzBO6IrlgX4vpR0UsuePLI5HJf_yQ2V4VuHKe_xTvbKMriO_V95ZdOexTgsT6P3Htuqf3DuScUa4VqubF-kMVwyNdJi71OIPirwc09qBUNFJt6G1s8R8j99Jw3GNjDtBcy0nKOpqZdEm6Q8xUaaUg==&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Maybe they were busy voting</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">San
Francisco teachers have overwhelmingly supported a preliminary strike
vote, with 2,238 checking the YES box on the ballot and 16 voting NO. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaiWrxbDtApiQUPycoovTSIobH2F3lBry8gJxEDOT74IheUM7TuExpx70lBtO8aoXvIu9g5NmYCY8lj_ZnQ77-hILwvFesA35YluVSHrVg6WDu6jxzEpueV_SjEAnVJGsmj1BYp1Zd3NiMeP6E9MRrSIFmyFZBci1rt-rrve57MISEeYP06vdW96R9RimTDIVQGbcWRXQmEzLjxJfebhOwNg==&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
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</tbody></table><a name="aolmail_LETTER.BLOCK56"></a><table style="background-color:#ebf5f6;display: table;" id="aolmail_content_LETTER.BLOCK56" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#ebf5f6" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:25px 25px 0px 25px;font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(240, 79, 35);" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div><b>BRIEFLY NOTED </b></div>
</td></tr><tr><td style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;padding:8px 25px 18px 25px;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="left" valign="top">
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>A majority ends</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">For the first time in
U.S. history, ethnic and racial minorities are projected to make up the
majority of students attending American public schools this fall, ending
the white-majority population that has existed from the beginnings of
the public education system. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRavlktnTMH7FZe1ejxkX46r7AERAmpnjp2itw5mIXa93fm4J4OFG9XPWoHNeXbZjDudYJhI90BQ0zigy4i_-0O1HYZEJxDsQ9fpwW7blY7pHvRQKpSLi41HZDLD8VxeK9m0GQXXpoaCBFXUgparjOAc9PooX3aXUlXeMgCuchIUV2V9XLaK_0Xh0DRjcpPBuBG1aQSfKLeMVyrBjY_dDqy94bZ_ovNEgnzv25Xap8hdGGwbUiGlfpO9u5eaUkRD2VsRgXaZHHYWbYAjiWdAeU7VQHG1hkRpVqfMIOCCGCJ8Js=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Not time to ACT</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">More students than ever
are taking the ACT college admissions test, but student achievement
remains flat, as nearly one-third of students are not meeting any
college-readiness benchmarks, according to a new report from the testing
agency. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaLkr4OiUoatqlWwNrH2qWnmeC33KCupTyivX0gFfZvXNuBkoFSfJGXG5MKByN2DfBAuzNNzX7NMwJVvgFQ0Q_OVKygn6xIchGgp_1ZWxURmZWfpfOjHVkszci7vgZU-e-btCowHuYBOo6FUdCx6uucoZYtzha0ThEM1_CDqm578QUH6ebNmICZlKHAZgKCWCy00GjDsAkZxNZZ_w73lbvlvrYwnzGAQtto7acOuKfpQo=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Shake it up</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A group billing itself
as a "Consumer Reports for school materials" will soon begin posting
free online reviews of major textbooks and curricula that purport to be
aligned to the Common Core State Standards -- an effort, some say, that
has the potential to shake up the market. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaZB80iI8AGMjEfrpXafcE-pRD0OP8sYC1sSF_8Or3e9bL8PslnTzK1YDNci29S2XKrb4hmleCJ2uOcsM13KQqjPoO9uGkkeFRx0oGJDc3prcVUsMdfACbeGMV_ssRpy0Pi-FfxcnzYeSZodeufyhNq_wqhsuQOPXfms1JH1t2YGfC8dFmOb5dy7YbJeqFECaBSWeUHi5BXBY=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>One born every minute</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">According to a recent
Gallup report, more U.S. adults agree or strongly agree that online
colleges and universities offer high-quality education (37 percent) than
did so in 2012 (33 percent) or 2011 (30 percent) when Gallup first
introduced the report. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRa6Ez8568uPw8cq6Qnz4TB43ypOEr7GUGZzyscwjaUVuy9DeN_YhNa97dfJ6siMAj0OQKeixpnEvZGR26bWQBoRZXpfkfC6hkwPdPYrYO-sGyNWpUh4GhZefvaAMwzpXKYeCctCYT7KB3hlK2pXxGBItNlje1DSlLhRzG-YaAhVx62wRW_bNUfBS_T12jAawTeARUVYjl3py0=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Hope he had a good vacation, anyway</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">House Republicans' plan
to sue President Barack Obama for a series of executive actions they
argue were an overreach of his legal authority could have ramifications
for some of the administration's signature education initiatives. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRa5InK79eQ-zJCwZSBT2Aw7DjUX82RWl02hoDZyON3AbQ8HAcoLXrH0KSRxQTuFsB4xJN3XY_4wt_TG6iii49th2P2UQJD12UNobvSvg2EOPXDVP6r8tUaUh793cVsHKqUNIX-PxckC_1Oh8AkpCLNVGe4BpMhJ2qDpKMDFSOsOOSmHpg0LuenzGAFFjUFK1O6cFWZU8WAToAYnxNwTbSo2_fsfDqobCjQF91Ln2UaGZtphtpJbzQctv0FSpi0H9k2QwAYAmZOWtlARivvcIfr6SX173_NwXVR18SoO2hnK0_-0pSLC0u3Hw==&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>TFA represents</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Teach for America has announced that 50 percent of its incoming corps of 5,300 identify as people of color. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRajnTfFhGuV2gkNnn2CO4V2zJD9pb3xHfo6NENNv613m0ZpjK7ZWa9Cya10VLfBd1uWdqxcn77Vx0pg7eHmK9Uy3NddkOs6WmlBA1bhDnsN9Y2NlgLGaNqJ5H6sULSFqpD1gSgZCQjTHNDFJkrdmIrNm7IFZtGygkCPufpBJ5j3GltJW-zHpV0WDxO7mg3jrANL9Oc0k54L2VNzXLWlxy98w==&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Raising the bar (somewhat)</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The South Carolina Board
of Education has approved a timeline that calls for the final OK in
March for new math and reading benchmarks for South Carolina students. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaY3NGz6_uhEPZb6tAHYnDPTVcm9b2SvZ7xIxKL8FuNpDClnjnrgAC5dXu3uRHoYZFOJ9Yh5jj17XJpbWFXbXWWezQIt6mMSVCn9oPPQBI3msPHdk9jrwPXe1vXnKOCICZxdz1ugOZ87_fUSStG02v-C6UWFWyuiEgVJixT-R14DkrB7qHMQLJM-exTsUyb2mNvPokRESh90KhQalv49dP7VNIhw95Azve&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Good</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Michigan's big
investment in a state-funded preschool program will give thousands of
additional children a shot at a better start to their education this
coming school year. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRa_UtEJ15wLezK0bjgNCwZFKcE3XA3qgljQXrZcSG51GPCNjBAg7uHJl5du1rIR6HvoVTgCfn4VIZe50WrgCgl94sO8FBOsB9wa-bfoVcGXxLBJL-v5aMhslF91OyqTwqMX-CAntpo4bAZy_Q8QOtohMkHovSclmeuc2KshjB5d4Vdq7qqyWjpoWsyDE84pbPCyipWc6tFWgg8bUkfCVOhuGbw2-7TlpcY&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Not good</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">More than a quarter of
Michigan's charter school authorizers are "at risk" of being suspended
because of low academic performance and problems with contract
transparency, the Michigan Department of Education has announced. <span style="color: #ee5624;"><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaSDAPVnN2FseBHwNYDDvukLet7vL4G42odEPGkx7sR8gT9jZmMz_rpIQASR-pMFd2eu5LN3FzwmrTyF9SmzVMDGt8hxh_rmzoEEhBIg4q4LcmwYqBVk_13t8jKhFf_809qDe_EYmP92DWKBvrSz3MpegfKmU5HLfWmbMhNgN4UnbdzGruJlK6tG5gRbD1swIPumKVHjcWKlg=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong> </strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Due process</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Kansas National
Education Association has filed a lawsuit in Shawnee County District
Court asking a judge to declare unconstitutional a new law that strips
teachers of a right to a hearing before they are fired. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaTqBzm2Bw852PZ38jERh-1vdSVzqOR7XtB7R0zlajKTQjXWPk9gwnp5Uu3IJ2KtqBh9At5fiITgpT12wDoYc08pw0ev--_1R7f-ahHOazMfKVv_C87F35ZY4OoN8oOdYLJx_ny8GNSSA_bZ031ghdjKFGPTVDI9HISzmnUsvFmVtDWY2gdh9kl43v_h-lrCQY9gModIpa3NQ=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Don't believe the hype</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Nevada Superintendent of
Public Instruction Dale Erquiaga said Nevada public education is in
worse shape than statistics indicate. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRa9gOHDCe-gthGKotd32wK_4sEYhbvdrvUJGM5nIHgo_Q9h-GA7nzEdmZ9nN9M5UUfi1ibdQRO98cOzOZqfrh354PKxOkpdkOSgHx_XivtOx-aklCPSpT_cM2K3NBypoRht8hbrd1z0cBSUZBDhWZJF6tGbdWNVgVF_fLYA9GTDhILW-nunqYTfLTTgoVJ-D9g&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Brushed back from the plate</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Gov. Bobby Jindal's
effort to derail Louisiana's use of the Common Core has been halted by a
state judge who said the governor's actions were harmful to parents,
teachers, students. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRagZEfaT3EoQ-FesDWRa7YFb-lWXpOp8BnNf_HtRkH5uipb3yFk-ep5J_Vu_bL-h_Z6Fz-2bmL0KDeVyAMiuXIjE72QBvJaDV8dGlpv6PhTp0t2OshxskKUuBq4ld4learxM9etkKqpYEv3-QgNiPAypFL3T3pZfA8g23esAS74lm68IaBoilDuE3LSyfefHQSDGM1x3l0e40V9wJZ2i3KREg6fDSiqcza0oFsc6Q4L1s=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Piling on</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Sixty percent of
American adults said they oppose Common Core, according to the results
of the annual PDK/Gallup Poll of attitudes toward public education. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRa-jaUEhxN2yRGtX-J9l5B-YAJ--4O-rrTPK1w2ErgI2C4Atsa_4v2fXJiYu8J78bGPXQwXyGMxUutLTztkj3yetj00nd7p9A65h3WeHZl2lSDyT1LK7JJUUxfDdMNBGpHAyHaSF2bvdBYykYeWEn746c1UEZtnF4_OqmdmJjfDHsuwML1QoSQGm96nRgn9meV&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>How neighborly</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of
Kentucky has reached across the river to endorse a candidate in the race
for the Ohio State Board of Education. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaXDdaKwq_QQoUWtqCzEkBKdVCI2pqRPL5eQUAvUmnRulewbWk7DvAwOz6FQKnoEB4EaMVN5VITk74C-Y63Y9RTxEWmc0yrsmlX4ckqnRbyg_D7xyanaZkIsJzTztunJ6RYQ_2q_Fak-xkKyPG8pzDiAy5uwVAn7iZmTWdieyzard-7HCgeICTiNdfGSIoz7YK7BLO_CFTOzzRsFBleGmBT8t4dgTJdOnPCnAUNbVYUbVuVr4vSexTULuHByTiVHnr&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Lousy timing</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A judge's ruling
declaring North Carolina's school-voucher program unconstitutional threw
hundreds of families into chaos and struck a blow against the
Republican education agenda in North Carolina. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRadKOaFtvQS2PPDUcU5HOfJZghqHxeqyxRSKhAYMqIcGfQNTtuqifFJOpDN9jljh35zHdEC7qL3FPSYjICdRT30VhNEBUNukH_Zp5OlfPexpoqxV97ejnyt4rnFEbjWkyhj7ON7s3wLlULcXZbhcvI9j-KE2yXsx4H2bufscA4Bl931DA9kcxl-NogMV9witrTSRRwv5rmgSfzt2sBQY1niT3O185DbJ81TvHeZFc1Yuw=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==" shape="rect">More</a></div>
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<div style="color:#ee5624;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;"><b>GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES</b></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Dizzy Feet Foundation: Program Grants</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Dizzy Feet
Foundation (DFF) makes grants that bolster dance-education programs for
children in low-income areas and disadvantaged communities. Through its
grant recipients, DFF seeks to give children the experience of dance, to
educate them about the many styles of dance, and to expose them to the
lifelong benefits of dance. Maximum award: varies. Eligibility:
community organizations and other tax-exempt entities in the United
States. Deadline: September 4, 2014. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRazVUhZmQ6QK2-LQiZEo18NpPW6zWLJnmvWAqhrbPN-rz92Uwe3vEWiWRuV74k2f7Bj3KakBCj2r4GwlbPPGUb1AF1EKRf1lkdxZ4trPPlwzeddmiOQ7mnYcWOST5hP3K0MC59Sya1o22IjbIzhES5mgI-kSEWJy9tF-1PY36N1QA=&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>Carnegie /New York Times: I Love My Librarian Award</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The Carnegie Corporation
of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award recognizes the
accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college,
community-college, or university librarians. Maximum award: $5,000, a
plaque, and $500 travel stipend to attend an awards reception in New
York hosted by The New York Times. Eligibility: school, public, college,
or university librarians. Deadline: September 12, 2014. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRaovTSH-P11KV00tTUZLE26-yVOpXjyy21fB_5w5yHjvs1mO7fQU3LYiImuqur8aJUd0-tfD3HYSvoObC7EwE0ZhQfF6w4ziWWY6yD-65pXkdJoq8WKVBH5qfZQ0c2jc3c8pEvp2VSfl8T14C_17obEQ==&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><strong>AGI: Connections in My Community</strong></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The American Geological
Institute is sponsoring a photography contest to celebrate Earth Science
Week 2014. The photography theme for this year is "Connections in My
Community." Maximum award: $300, a copy of AGI's The Geoscience
Handbook, and winner's photograph on the Earth Science Week website.
Eligibility: residents of the United States of any age. Deadline:
October 14, 2014. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F25ucq6cfLl6UKyDK-xF39PQp_CHHrspZZe9PFwEFgD6bcdTbgidq25goPrXU7ICIR_74GpJxFd0MPWmHSFqekKLSbHKBARGmXSM6lfc5fMa2OY4h5Mr8mEISzQYzSblM-fM6BOT-gqoUhDS5qpOkdIuhcfbSkqaTfp5EtVK1yNsc&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; color: #ee5624;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>QUOTE OF THE WEEK:</strong></span></div>
<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span>"In here, we're
not talking about what's going on out there. But if a child is sad, we
have pulled kids aside and done some coloring. Color it out and then
have a release." -- <strong><span style="color: #ee5624;">Antona Smith, a former educator volunteering at the Ferguson Municipal Public Library,</span></strong> where parents can drop off kids to learn while school in Ferguson remains delayed. <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(238, 86, 36); text-decoration: none;" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tMGKUFpx4C1MLm23_fRKmnNy5_AF27WSLTHRxcpOoGZfN04cRR-F29R9ZlRgltRatPZKOLVCxHlq7TFaQli3jQqAANtI0y8BmWxvrKbGYzF-Ke_ZplHXzDeE5Acil23GDOZoQPVy4S2Y0ZCbzM9b0rmH1sRlUHhxnbN8f64-9kEMlhG0pHGsKF1DelM9WdQL9_7ieW3qGFyvk1Cj4AEWN7I888XwWZ8Bn2A05NB-aRrZMgegfZNjgkv2YCpAogiXimSzHdRBmfar5c3c-cpmtdTagRsalYOK_IcPjy98mq_lqURpg8nZsWtCdrZ3SLgj8vV0T-a98eyDOGEEaSGQl6FxRaRclG4h&c=tJP92SHf1vKCSVxBqnCDBK2LoqAHhL1gaU-1eDNVkmSstGSl5G64BQ==&ch=gsMj1MV_6MnlJroOKuAsGUxSQ-TaVMm1QZAL525hLihjgAKyrypoqw==">More</a></span></div>
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